Practically a day spent at Disney World.
Ok, maybe it's not quite like Disney World, but Pullen Park is a pretty awesome spot to spend the day with your child. You feel immediate joy upon entering this immaculately kept gem in Raleigh. Entrance is free, which allows you access to wander in the park and play on the playgrounds. The playgrounds alone allow for a couple of hours of joyful play time. If you have more than one child this can be a blessing and a curse. While the play areas are partially fenced, they are typically crowded, and it is a fairly large area so it can be tough to keep an eye on your little ones. Make sure you bring your sand buckets and shovels for the sand play area!
For children over the age of 1 and adults, tickets must be purchased at $1.50 a piece to ride the various rides. Pullen Park is home to the famous Gustave A. Dentzel Carousel dating back to 1911, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. You can pedal your way around Lake Howell in the pedal boats for half an hour. The boats seat up to four people, but do require four tickets either way for fewer than four riders. My kids favorite part of the park is the C.P. Huntington miniature train. The train loops around the park, over and under bridges, and by Lake Howell making for a lovely little ride. Right outside the entrance to the train you will find the cutest little Kiddie Boats ride too! The park also offers picnic shelters, tennis courts, ball fields, a theater, and an aquatic, community, and arts center.
Another plus to this park is that there is no need to pack a lunch, unless you prefer to, because there is a fantastic cafe on site. Pullen Place Cafe and Catering has great prices and fresh food. The best thing about the cafe, which sources it's ingredients and products locally, is that the menu changes with the season! So no matter when you visit you are sure to be pleased. Oh and they have coffee. That's important!
This beautiful park, created on donated farmland in the the late 1800's, is the oldest public park in North Carolina and the 5th oldest amusement park in America. That's a pretty cool fact. So if you haven't taken your kids here yet I highly recommend planning a trip to Pullen Park. I am glad so many folks have donated land around the triangle to be made into amazing parks for residents and visitors to enjoy. More great park information to come!
***By the way any words underlined in my posts are hyperlinked!
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